“Every person who walks into my office comes with a story.” Reflecting on his experience as an administrator, C M Saikanth Varma, I.A.S., Collector & District Magistrate, Guntur, offered this thought at the inaugural session of the second edition of the Amaravati Literature Festival (ALF) 2026, setting the tone for a festival that celebrates not merely literature, but the stories that shape people, places and societies.
Hosted by Easwari School of Liberal Arts (ESLA), SRM University–AP, Amaravati, the festival brought together writers, scholars, translators, educators, cultural practitioners and young minds around the theme of stories and changing times. The conversations reflected a larger idea: while Amaravati is being imagined as a city of the future, the people, memories, ideas and experiences that become part of its journey will ultimately shape its identity.
Speaking at the inaugural, Collector C M Saikanth Varma reflected on Amaravati’s long history, noting that the region has been telling stories for over 2,000 years through its heritage, sculptures and cultural traditions. He recalled the legacy of writers such as Gurajada Apparao and Unnava Lakshmi Narayana, whose works questioned social realities and contributed to change. Drawing a connection between administration and storytelling, he observed that documents, government orders and the people who approach an administrator carry stories of their own. The responsibility, he said, is to work towards giving these stories a positive ending.
Tejaswi Podapati, Chairperson, Andhra Pradesh State Creativity and Culture Commission, highlighted SRM University–AP’s efforts to advance culture alongside technology, emphasising the enduring power of words. She observed that while computers have transformed how people experience the world, there remains a beautiful world beyond the screen: a world of books, imagination, language, ideas and human connection. The written word, she noted, can make people pause, think, and connect across generations.
Prof. Ch Satish Kumar, Vice Chancellor, SRM University–AP, highlighted the festival’s growing significance and announced that ALF will introduce two literary awards from its next edition: one at the national level and another recognising contributions to Telugu literature. Envisioned as prestigious Amaravati Literature Festival awards, the initiative seeks to create a lasting platform for recognising writers and literary contributions and building a distinctive literary legacy for Amaravati.
Keynote speaker Mini Krishnan, noted editor and literary translator, emphasised the power of the written word to preserve memory, heritage and diverse cultural experiences. She highlighted translation as a bridge between India’s many languages and communities, while underscoring the importance of human mentorship, emotion and critical thinking in an age increasingly shaped by AI.
Prof. Vishnupad, Dean, Easwari School of Liberal Arts, Dr Sayantan Thakur, Assistant Professor and Head of the Department of Literature and Languages, and Dr Argha Basu, Assistant Professor and Convener, ALF 2026, reflected on the festival’s larger purpose. They highlighted the importance of dialogue, diverse perspectives, and a strong cultural dimension to Amaravati’s development.
The first day featured engaging conversations with Purnima Tammireddy, Writer, Translator and Independent Telugu Publisher, and Avineni Bhaskar, VLSI Engineer, Writer and passionate advocate of Telugu literature and culture; Madan Meena, Visual Artist, Researcher and Folklorist; and Sheela Tomy, acclaimed Malayalam writer and screenwriter. The day also offered visitors opportunities to explore book, stationery and book-exchange stalls, along with a range of literary and creative engagements.
For SRM University–AP, ALF represents more than an annual literary gathering. It is part of the university’s ongoing engagement with Amaravati’s cultural imagination. As the city writes its next chapter, SRM AP seeks to be a space where those stories are heard, questioned, shared and carried forward.
